New Wedding Boutique Focuses on Customizable Bridal Accessories

Most brides want their wedding day to be special, unique and memorable. A new boutique opening Friday in downtown Waukesha aims to do that with its customizable products — ranging from shoes to purses and from veils to invitations.

“We are trying to give brides a one-of-a-kind special piece for her day,” said owner Dorothy Owsley.

Owsley began running her wedding and event planning business, Blush, out of her New Berlin home eight years ago. As her company became more and more successful, she realized she needed to find a different location for the consulting business. Hesitant to open a storefront and reduce profits by the increased overhead, she decided to add in the boutique as an added bonus to the business.

“Now it is going to be right there,” said Owsley, point around the store with a chuckle. “After eight years, it was big enough that it was time to not have people constantly traveling to my house.”

The bridal accessory line is the perfect niche for her business, Owsley said. She plans to have product tables set up like they would be for a wedding reception.

“Everybody who comes through the door is looking for ideas for their wedding,” Owsley said. “Hopefully, when we get the store all put together, it will just be full of ideas.”

Bells & Whistles is located at 330 W. Broadway. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The phone number is (262) 278-4395.